Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin Facts for Kids

Self-portrait, 1771, pastel, Musée du Louvre, Paris

Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin (born November 2, 1699 – died December 6, 1779) was a famous French painter from the 1700s. He is known as a master of still life paintings. He also painted many "genre" pictures. These showed everyday scenes like kitchen maids, children, and home activities.

Chardin's paintings are special because of how he put them together. He used a careful balance in his pictures. He also made the light look soft and spread out. His paint often looked thick and textured, which is called impasto.

What is Still Life Painting?
- Chardin's Still Life Works
What are Genre Paintings?
- Chardin's Genre Scenes
Chardin's Painting Style
Images for kids
See also

What is Still Life Painting?

Still life painting is a type of art. It shows objects that do not move. These can be things like fruit, flowers, food, or kitchen items. Chardin was very good at making these everyday objects look beautiful and real. He often painted simple things found in a home. He showed them in a way that made you notice their textures and shapes.

Chardin's Still Life Works

Chardin painted many different still life scenes. He often showed food like peaches, plums, or bread. He also painted kitchen tools, bottles, and jars. His paintings make these simple items seem important. He used light and shadow to give them a calm, quiet feeling.

What are Genre Paintings?

Genre paintings show scenes from everyday life. They are not about famous people or big historical events. Instead, they show ordinary people doing normal things. Chardin's genre paintings often featured children playing or learning. He also painted women working in the kitchen.

Chardin's Genre Scenes

Chardin's genre paintings are special because they show real life. He painted children blowing soap bubbles. He also showed them learning to draw. His paintings of kitchen maids are very famous. They show women busy with daily chores. These paintings give us a peek into homes from the 1700s. They show simple, honest moments.

Chardin's Painting Style

Chardin's style was very unique. He used a special way of painting called impasto. This means he applied paint thickly. You could often see the brushstrokes. This gave his paintings a rich texture. He also used light in a soft, gentle way. This made his paintings feel calm and peaceful. He focused on making things look real and true to life.

Images for kids

Jar of Apricots (1758), oil on canvas, 57 x 51 cm., Art Gallery of Ontario
The Sliced Melon (1760), oil on canvas, 57 x 52 cm., Louvre
Enameled box and other objects painted after the style of Chardin
Dead Rabbit and Hunting Gear (ca. 1727), oil on canvas., 81 x 65 cm., Louvre
The Ray (1727), oil on canvas, 114.5 x 146 cm., Louvre
Glass Flask and Fruit (ca. 1728), oil on canvas, 55.7 x 46 cm., Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe
The Attributes of Exploration (1731), oil on canvas, 141 x 219 cm., Musée Jacquemart-André
Sealing the Letter (1733), oil on canvas, 146 x 147 cm., Schloss Charlottenburg
Soap Bubbles (ca.1733-1734), oil on canvas, 93 x 74.6 cm., National Gallery of Art
The Drawing Lesson (ca. 1734), oil on canvas, 41 × 47 cm., Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
The Draftsman (1737), oil on canvas, 80 x 65 cm., Louvre
Woman Cleaning Turnips (ca. 1738), oil on canvas, 46.2 x 37 cm., Alte Pinakothek
The Return from the Market (1738–39), oil on canvas, 47 x 38 cm., Louvre
The Governess (1739), oil on canvas, 47 x 38 cm., National Gallery of Canada
Portrait of Auguste Gabriel Godefroy (1741), oil on canvas, 64.5 x 76.5 cm., São Paulo Museum of Art
Saying Grace (1744), oil on canvas, 50 x 38 cm., Hermitage Museum
The Attentive Nurse (1747), oil on canvas, 46.2 x 37 cm., National Gallery of Art
The Good Education (ca. 1753), oil on canvas, 43 x 47.3 cm., Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Preparations of a Lunch (1756), oil on canvas, 38 × 46 cm., Musée des Beaux-Arts de Carcassonne
A Basket of Wild Strawberries (ca, 1760), oil on canvas, 38 x 46 cm., private collection
La Brioche (1763), oil on canvas, 47 x 56 cm., Louvre
Basket of Plums (1765), oil on canvas, 32.4 x 41.9 cm., Chrysler Museum of Art
Still Life with Attributes of the Arts (1766), oil on canvas, 112 x 140.5 cm., Hermitage Museum
Basket of Peaches, with Walnuts, Knife and Glass of Wine (1768), oil on canvas, 32 x 39 cm., Louvre
Still Life with Fish and Vegetables (1769), oil on canvas, 68.6 x 58.4 cm., J. Paul Getty Museum